The show, of course, included many seasonal songs. For most numbers, the musicians played and alternately sang and audience participation was encouraged. One standout number among the many was the version of "Little Drummer Boy" with Butler drumming an intricate South African rhythm, then joined by Braun on trumpet for an excellent fresh rendition of this perennial favorite. Other numbers included "Winter Wonderland," and a delightful duet between Koz and Dulfer which updated "Baby It's Cold Outside" and allowed them to play a wonderful sax duet. During this number, the stage was transformed by means of projected images into Koz's living room, complete with a fireplace and large portraits of himself on the walls. Butler brought the crowd to its feet with his powerful version of "O Holy Night." What a powerful and expressive voice that man has!
Another segment of the show honored four classic performers associated with Christmas: Bing Crosby with "White Christmas," featuring Braun; Nat King Cole with "The Christmas Song," featuring Butler; Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby," with Dulfer adding a few items to the list ("Jimmy Choos and Laboutins, too") and invoking Beyonce at the mention of the ring ("and one more thing, a ring..If you like it, you oughta put a ring on it"); and Frank Sinatra, with Koz rendering "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
Among the non-seasonal segments of the show were a stunning version of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" to honor the troops, and Braun's rendition of "The Good Life," from his new CD, on which he sings for the first time (he has an excellent crooner's voice). Butler's show-stopping, soaring version of "No Woman No Cry," and a segment called "The Koz Zone," which transformed the stage into a neon-filled jazz district while the performers took turns playing familiar hits such as "Green Onions."
Koz is actually Jewish, and he did a marvelous number off of the Ultimate Christmas CD, "Eight Candles (A Song for Hanukkah)," during which he performed a traditional Jewish dance step. Then, the two African-American guitarists from his band suddenly stepped in front of Koz, playing a very funky rhythm. "You've hijacked my Hannukah song!" Koz exclaimed. "There's nothing funky about Hannukah! But," with a shrug, "If you can't beat 'em," and he added a very funky sax version of the tune to the mix. The three ended the song doing the Hannukah dance step in unison, and the audience exploded into thunderous applause.
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